A typical walk with owners Mark and Michelle Jewell turned into a narrow escape from death for Bertie, a pointer cross breed, in northeast England.
From being playful and perky to looking rather ill, the Jewell family realized Bertie was in trouble and rushed him to the Clarendon House Veterinary Surgery center in County Essex, England. A quick physical exam by Dr. John Matthews showed startling abnormalities in his abdomen and X-rays were ordered as Bertie was admitted.
Astonishingly, Bertie had swallowed nine golf balls.
“We were absolutely flabbergasted when we saw Bertie’s X-ray," said veterinarian Emily Nittingale. "His stomach could have easily ruptured from the pressure of the golf balls, which could have been fatal."
Nittingale assisted Matthews in the emergency surgery, which not only removed the nine golf balls, but also a bullet from the fat around Bertie's stomach.
The Jewels were shocked to learn that Berti had been shot at some point in his life.
"He had no wounds from the gun shot injury so we suspect he had been shot a long time ago and no there is no chance he could have swallowed the bullet as it was outside the stomach," Nittingale explained in a reply e-mail to ZT Pet News. "And the fact that the bullet miraculously missed his vital internal organs proves just how lucky this brave little chappie has been.”
Since his July 27 surgery, Bertie has been at home recovering and waiting to have his stitches removed. Relieved that Bertie has made such great progress in healing, the family dog will soon be getting the all-clear from the vets.
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